[sstack]

You know, I have never understood trash talkers - especially coming from one who has to adopt another school's team because his own alma mater has such a weak program.

It's like the fella who wants to proclaim, "My daddy could beat up your daddy," but who knows that his daddy couldn't whip a scarecrow. What's a boy to do? Well, he just adopts the toughest guy in the neighborhood as his own and takes him to show-and-tell day. nicker:

I never predicted a JC win but said that the game would be closer than a lot of people expected if they could avoid turning the ball over. Turnovers killed JC but otherwise, they moved the ball against Highlands very well. Their defense was another matter, as they were pretty much at Towles's mercy. No surprise there, JC is a very young team that went up against a potent and very experienced offense, which is why it was so important for the Golden Eagles to control the time of possession and avoid mistakes. They did neither and nobody expected the game to be close unless JC played a near perfect game.

I did find it very interesting that Coach Mueller had his first team offense in the game with a 4th quarter, 40-point lead, and didn't pull them until the lead hit 47 points. Yet, I have not read the first post about Mueller leaving Towles in the game to pad his stats, nor have I read anybody who was concerned that Towles might have been injured again in a blowout win with a playoff game against an excellent Covington Catholic team coming up next Friday.

Mueller must have really been upset that Johnson Central scored in the first quarter and that it scored twice in one half against his first string defense in the first half.

Anyway, congrats to Highlands on its win. Good luck Colonels next week!

Are you serious? Turn overs did not kill them, lack of the offense moving the ball did. Bruns was in the backfield all night tacking the hand off before the JC RB's. Yes, JC has been HHS best competition the past couple of years, but they were not on the same playing field this year.
Nice try on the "running up the score" comment. HHS was not going to pull starters until the running clock started, because everybody knows JC would leave starters in the whole game. If HHS puts 2nd team in when you suggested it was a good chance for them to make a run. After the game was well in hand, the starters were pulled and 3rd string QB was brought in.

I do not think Mueller is ever happy when scored upon. I do not think he felt threatened by JC offense from the start of the game. He was willing to allow JC start from the 40 yard line or better on each kickoff. His game plan was to keep it out of JJ's hands on kickoff and shut him down on offense. On JC's first TD, they started on about the 45,and a couple of HHS penalties moved the ball deep in their territory. If not for the penalties, I do not think JC scores. I am sure Mueller was mader about the penalties than the score.

[Blau Vogel]

I never predicted a JC win but said that the game would be closer than a lot of people expected if they could avoid turning the ball over. 1.)Turnovers killed JC but otherwise, 2.) they moved the ball against Highlands very well. Their defense was another matter, as they were pretty much at Towles's mercy. No surprise there, JC is a very young team that went up against a potent and very experienced offense, which is why it was so important for the Golden Eagles to control the time of possession and avoid mistakes. They did neither and nobody expected the game to be close unless JC played a near perfect game.

3.) I did find it very interesting that Coach Mueller had his first team offense in the game with a 4th quarter, 40-point lead, and didn't pull them until the lead hit 47 points. Yet, I have not read the first post about Mueller leaving Towles in the game to pad his stats, nor have I read anybody who was concerned that Towles might have been injured again in a blowout win with a playoff game against an excellent Covington Catholic team coming up next Friday.

Mueller must have really been upset that Johnson Central scored in the first quarter and that it scored twice in one half against his first string defense in the first half.

Anyway, congrats to Highlands on its win. Good luck Colonels next week!

1.) Do you believe the turnovers played a big part in the loss? Two less possessions for the Birds would have meant what??? A 51 - 20 game? Highlands scord a TD on EVERY possession with the exception of the last when hey took a knee.

2.) Really? 267 total yards (Heck, JJ usually can put up numbers like that in the first half against the stellar competition The Eagles play during he season) with 72 of them coming in the waining moments against the JV. The Birds gave up 120 penalty yards, 22 more than JJ was able to rush for.

3.) He was just helping with Pat's conditioning, trying to get him ready to play a full game in the playoffs. He doesn't want him running out of gas when the chips are down.

Anyway, congrats to JC on another good season. Good luck next year. Here's hoping we get visit you guys next year.!

[Wideleft01]

You know, I have never understood trash talkers - especially coming from one who has to adopt another school's team because his own alma mater has such a weak program.

It's like the fella who wants to proclaim, "My daddy could beat up your daddy," but who knows that his daddy couldn't whip a scarecrow. What's a boy to do? Well, he just adopts the toughest guy in the neighborhood as his own and takes him to show-and-tell day. nicker:

I never predicted a JC win but said that the game would be closer than a lot of people expected if they could avoid turning the ball over. Turnovers killed JC but otherwise, they moved the ball against Highlands very well. Their defense was another matter, as they were pretty much at Towles's mercy. No surprise there, JC is a very young team that went up against a potent and very experienced offense, which is why it was so important for the Golden Eagles to control the time of possession and avoid mistakes. They did neither and nobody expected the game to be close unless JC played a near perfect game.

I did find it very interesting that Coach Mueller had his first team offense in the game with a 4th quarter, 40-point lead, and didn't pull them until the lead hit 47 points. Yet, I have not read the first post about Mueller leaving Towles in the game to pad his stats, nor have I read anybody who was concerned that Towles might have been injured again in a blowout win with a playoff game against an excellent Covington Catholic team coming up next Friday.

Mueller must have really been upset that Johnson Central scored in the first quarter and that it scored twice in one half against his first string defense in the first half.

Anyway, congrats to Highlands on its win. Good luck Colonels next week!

The Eagles were totally destroyed. Highlands was 10 for 10 for touchdowns. Even when it was 2 and 25 or 3rd and 15 it didn't matter. Highlands offense could run anything they wanted and it worked. Runs, deep passes, screens, outs or straight handoffs. Highlands absolutely destroyed the Johnson Defense. Add in the fact that Highlands defense was blowing up the Johnson running game and you had as bad of mismatch as the Pendleton Co, Harrison Co, and Boyd Co games. Johnson is certainly better than those teams, but, they looked no better on Friday night. Johnson Central is going to need to get 60 pts better to beat Highlands next year. Towles is an exceptionally good QB. But don't be surprised when next year's starter shreds your defense too and Highlands ends your season for the 5th straight year. Keep petioning the KHSAA. Maybe some day they'll move you out of Highlands class.

[Hoot Gibson]

The Eagles were totally destroyed. Highlands was 10 for 10 for touchdowns. Even when it was 2 and 25 or 3rd and 15 it didn't matter. Highlands offense could run anything they wanted and it worked. Runs, deep passes, screens, outs or straight handoffs. Highlands absolutely destroyed the Johnson Defense. Add in the fact that Highlands defense was blowing up the Johnson running game and you had as bad of mismatch as the Pendleton Co, Harrison Co, and Boyd Co games. Johnson is certainly better than those teams, but, they looked no better on Friday night. Johnson Central is going to need to get 60 pts better to beat Highlands next year. Towles is an exceptionally good QB. But don't be surprised when next year's starter shreds your defense too and Highlands ends your season for the 5th straight year. Keep petioning the KHSAA. Maybe some day they'll move you out of Highlands class.

Another classless post, Wideleft, and here I thought that you were making some progress.

FYI, I was a very vocal critic of Johnson Central's petition to remain in Class 5A and I was attacked from all sides by JC fans and administrators on this very forum. When Johnson Central finally beats Highlands, and it will happen someday if Matney continues coaching, I do not want Highlands fans such as yourself to have any excuses. Whether you want to admit it or not, Matney has Highlands' defense figured out. This year's team was very short on experience but JC still moved the ball effectively.

When Matney has experienced players in the right positions, Highlands will need to score a large number of points to win. The freshmen and sophomores who faced the Bluebirds last night will form the foundation of some very good teams. Defensively, nobody is going to shutdown Highlands' passing game without some very talented and very experienced players in the secondary.

[Hoot Gibson]

1.) Do you believe the turnovers played a big part in the loss? Two less possessions for the Birds would have meant what??? A 51 - 20 game? Highlands scord a TD on EVERY possession with the exception of the last when hey took a knee.

Turnovers did not affect the outcome because Johnson Central failed to stop Highlands first team from scoring on a single possession. You can't win games without making at least one defensive stop and even then your offense must play a flawless game. The turnovers most definitely resulted in a larger scoring margin than it should have been.

2.) Really? 267 total yards (Heck, JJ usually can put up numbers like that in the first half against the stellar competition The Eagles play during he season) with 72 of them coming in the waining moments against the JV. The Birds gave up 120 penalty yards, 22 more than JJ was able to rush for.

How many teams have posted more yards against Highlands, despite a rash of turnovers? How many teams have scored 13 points in the first half of Highlands' other games this season? [/QUOTE]

3.) He was just helping with Pat's conditioning, trying to get him ready to play a full game in the playoffs. He doesn't want him running out of gas when the chips are down.

That's some funny stuff right there. Do a search and see how Highlands fans responded to my defense of Jim Matney playing Jude so many minutes because Jude would need to be in shape to play against two-platoon systems like Highlands'. My point, and it is a valid one, is that Matney and Jude's accomplishments have been criticized over the past two seasons as being "tainted" because Jude has broken some big runs after the outcome of the games have been decided. Mueller does the same thing last night (with a two-platoon system, no less) and I hear nothing but crickets from Matney's critics. How much conditioning does an all-state quarterback who plays one way need at this late date in the season?

Anyway, congrats to JC on another good season. Good luck next year. Here's hoping we get visit you guys next year.!

I am looking forward to next season's game in Paintsville. Ashland will suffer some heavy graduation losses, so JC should be a heavy favorite to win its district.

[Hoot Gibson]

Are you serious? Turn overs did not kill them, lack of the offense moving the ball did. Bruns was in the backfield all night tacking the hand off before the JC RB's. Yes, JC has been HHS best competition the past couple of years, but they were not on the same playing field this year.
Nice try on the "running up the score" comment. HHS was not going to pull starters until the running clock started, because everybody knows JC would leave starters in the whole game. If HHS puts 2nd team in when you suggested it was a good chance for them to make a run. After the game was well in hand, the starters were pulled and 3rd string QB was brought in.

I do not think Mueller is ever happy when scored upon. I do not think he felt threatened by JC offense from the start of the game. He was willing to allow JC start from the 40 yard line or better on each kickoff. His game plan was to keep it out of JJ's hands on kickoff and shut him down on offense. On JC's first TD, they started on about the 45,and a couple of HHS penalties moved the ball deep in their territory. If not for the penalties, I do not think JC scores. I am sure Mueller was mader about the penalties than the score.

So, am I to believe that Highlands was afraid that Johnson Central, which showed no inclination to resort to a passing game, was a threat to come back from 40 points down in the fourth quarter against Fort Thomas Highlands? Really?

That is the most fanciful defenses of a team running up the score that I have ever read. My guess is that Jim Matney was glad that Mueller decided to show no sportsmanship Friday night. His freshmen and sophomores will be reminded of last nights games on a regular basis until the day that they graduate.

[Eagle Pride 90`]

I couldn't help but notice the 10 or 12 HHS fans standing around our post game huddle. They seemed to be listening very intently. Matney has had his character questioned over and over on here but I felt he was very classy and respectful of the HHS program. He told his team that the dedication of the Bluebirds is the foundation for championship teams and that is where we need to start Monday in the weight room. There was no poor sportsmanship or excuses only, we got our butts kicked and we are going to have to work just like the teams the last few years at JC if we are going to compete with the Birds.

Highlands offense was much improved over last year. Their defense was the best we had seen all year and the play of the brothers was nothing less than terrific.

HHS will beat CovCath by three or four TDs if they come with the same intensity as they did friday night. They very well could clock everyone else after that.

[Stardust]

So, am I to believe that Highlands was afraid that Johnson Central, which showed no inclination to resort to a passing game, was a threat to come back from 40 points down in the fourth quarter against Fort Thomas Highlands? Really?

That is the most fanciful defenses of a team running up the score that I have ever read. My guess is that Jim Matney was glad that Mueller decided to show no sportsmanship Friday night. His freshmen and sophomores will be reminded of last nights games on a regular basis until the day that they graduate.

Well, JJ is capable of breaking for a TD everytime he touched the football, so maybe the Birds were afraid of him touching the ball 6 more times?

[sstack]

I couldn't help but notice the 10 or 12 HHS fans standing around our post game huddle. They seemed to be listening very intently. Matney has had his character questioned over and over on here but I felt he was very classy and respectful of the HHS program. He told his team that the dedication of the Bluebirds is the foundation for championship teams and that is where we need to start Monday in the weight room. There was no poor sportsmanship or excuses only, we got our butts kicked and we are going to have to work just like the teams the last few years at JC if we are going to compete with the Birds.

Highlands offense was much improved over last year. Their defense was the best we had seen all year and the play of the brothers was nothing less than terrific.

HHS will beat CovCath by three or four TDs if they come with the same intensity as they did friday night. They very well could clock everyone else after that.

Great post! Some fans are so blinded by their alleglance to their school that they refuse to see or admit someone is better. HHS fans have been giving BIG props to the JC program over the last several years, but some continue to forget this. This year it just so happens that HHS is just as good if not better than last year and JC is down a little. I still think JC plays hard and coached better than a lot of teams.

I agree if they come out with the same intensity and decrease the number of penalties, Cov Cath will not win. As for the rest of the teams still left, Boyle was dominated already by HHS and Lex Cath is on the same level as Boyle. Franklin, Lone Oak, Western, and Collins we be a running clock.

[Blau Vogel]

Another classless post, Wideleft, and here I thought that you were making some progress.

FYI, I was a very vocal critic of Johnson Central's petition to remain in Class 5A and I was attacked from all sides by JC fans and administrators on this very forum. When Johnson Central finally beats Highlands, and it will happen someday if Matney continues coaching, I do not want Highlands fans such as yourself to have any excuses. KEEP BELIEVING THIS ->Whether you want to admit it or not, Matney has Highlands' defense figured out.and you will NEVER see a JC victory over the Birds This year's team was very short on experience but JC still moved the ball effectively.
When Matney has experienced players in the right positions, Highlands will need to score a large number of points to win. The freshmen and sophomores who faced the Bluebirds last night will form the foundation of some very good teams. Defensively, nobody is going to shutdown Highlands' passing game without some very talented and very experienced players in the secondary.

NO THEY DID NOT...Highlands penalties resulted in 10 free first downs. I doubt they earned more than 3 or four first downs with out help. On their scoring dives in the first half, I doubt JC EARNED more than 40 - 50 yards

[Blau Vogel]

That's some funny stuff right there. Do a search and see how Highlands fans responded to my defense of Jim Matney playing Jude so many minutes because Jude would need to be in shape to play against two-platoon systems like Highlands'. My point, and it is a valid one, is that Matney and Jude's accomplishments have been criticized over the past two seasons as being "tainted" because Jude has broken some big runs after the outcome of the games have been decided. Mueller does the same thing last night (with a two-platoon system, no less) and I hear nothing but crickets from Matney's critics. How much conditioning does an all-state quarterback who plays one way need at this late date in the season?

I was saying this tongue in cheek, taking a shot a your LAME excuse of conditioning for JJ. That has nothing to do with him playing all four quarters in blowouts.I HAVE NEVER AND WILL NEVER CRITICIZED JJ. WHAT HE HAS DONE BY ANY MEANS IS AMAZING.

[Blau Vogel]

So, am I to believe that Highlands was afraid that Johnson Central, which showed no inclination to resort to a passing game, was a threat to come back from 40 points down in the fourth quarter against Fort Thomas Highlands? Really?

That is the most fanciful defenses of a team running up the score that I have ever read. My guess is that Jim Matney was glad that Mueller decided to show no sportsmanship Friday nightFriday night. His freshmen and sophomores will be reminded of last nights games on a regular basis until the day that they graduate.

Matney does it every chance he gets...Why should it bother you that Mueller does it once a year? If Matney uses this as a rallying cry for future teams, it will probably ring pretty hollow to the freshmen and sophomores on the team that watched their coach do it 6 - 8 times this season alone.

[Can you dig it?]

I did find it very interesting that Coach Mueller had his first team offense in the game with a 4th quarter, 40-point lead, and didn't pull them until the lead hit 47 points. Yet, I have not read the first post about Mueller leaving Towles in the game to pad his stats, nor have I read anybody who was concerned that Towles might have been injured again in a blowout win with a playoff game against an excellent Covington Catholic team coming up next Friday.

How could Towles been injured? JC never got close to him unless he ran it.nicker:
As for the starters playing into the 4th, sorry, but our second team and sophs have been playing so much lately that they were worn out. Dale decided to give them the night off.:problem:

[tradition]

Hoot, you certainly have alot of opinions on a game you didn't even see.

[Stardust]

^ Hoot is the only JC fan who has really struggled with this Looks like Lefty got under his skin really good

[NCC41]

How could Towles been injured? JC never got close to him unless he ran it.nicker:
As for the starters playing into the 4th, sorry, but our second team and sophs have been playing so much lately that they were worn out. Dale decided to give them the night off.:problem:

Actually the sophs weren't getting a break from being worn out. From what I understand there was a concern about the 1st offense not having played enough quarters to earn a letter this year. :biggrin:

[Stardust]

Hall INT

[Hoot Gibson]

Hoot, you certainly have alot of opinions on a game you didn't even see.

Not really. I was just eager to see how Highlands fans (including your adoptee, Stardust) would rationalize Mueller' decision to run up the score and risk injuries to Towles and the other Bluebirds starters by playing them the fourth quarter of a blowout win. The double standard is exactly what I expected.

I assume that the Highlands supporters who are not defending Mueller know good sportsmanship when the see it - and when they don't.

[Wideleft01]

Teams that run up scores are fair game for getting it run up on them. I would have like to have seen Highlands go for 2 after every one of their Td's. Feel free to run it up on Highlands anytime you can. If the starters stayed in Johnson doesn't get that last TD and Highlands probably would have had one more. It was every bit of a 76-13 game.

I kind of wished I would have walked over and listened to Matney's post game speech, but I didn't think he could come up with anything I needed to hear.

[sstack]

Not really. I was just eager to see how Highlands fans (including your adoptee, Stardust) would rationalize Mueller' decision to run up the score and risk injuries to Towles and the other Bluebirds starters by playing them the fourth quarter of a blowout win. The double standard is exactly what I expected.

I assume that the Highlands supporters who are not defending Mueller know good sportsmanship when the see it - and when they don't.

I kind of lost interest in the fourth quarter, so can someone tell me if I am correct. Wasn't the score 54-13 when the starters left the game? And the second/third stringers scored the rest (against JC's 1st string) and JC's third score against the second stringers? I think you are really trying to stretch it to say the score was run up. Now that I think about it, I think it was 60-13 and the running clock started when 2/3 stringers came in. Still think your grasping for straws. JC was not waving the white flag and still had all starters in and kicking onside kicks (which I have no problem with), so you do not let off the gas until the running clock, and no doubt about the out come.

[2dog]

Not really. I was just eager to see how Highlands fans (including your adoptee, Stardust) would rationalize Mueller' decision to run up the score and risk injuries to Towles and the other Bluebirds starters by playing them the fourth quarter of a blowout win. The double standard is exactly what I expected.

I assume that the Highlands supporters who are not defending Mueller know good sportsmanship when the see it - and when they don't.

Please forgive me for being blunt, but your snot nosed whining is getting old.

[McCameraMan]

Congrats Highlands

[Blau Vogel]

Genius!

How could Towles been injured? JC never got close to him unless he ran it.nicker:
As for the starters playing into the 4th, sorry, but our second team and sophs have been playing so much lately that they were worn out. Dale decided to give them the night off.:problem:

:thatsfunn

Actually the sophs weren't getting a break from being worn out. From what I understand there was a concern about the 1st offense not having played enough quarters to earn a letter this year. :biggrin:

:thatsfunn

[Can you dig it?]

Not really. I was just eager to see how Highlands fans (including your adoptee, Stardust) would rationalize Mueller' decision to run up the score and risk injuries to Towles and the other Bluebirds starters by playing them the fourth quarter of a blowout win. The double standard is exactly what I expected.

I assume that the Highlands supporters who are not defending Mueller know good sportsmanship when the see it - and when they don't.

:Sad04:Enjoy basketball season, Hoot. See you next August.

[JCHS Alumni Eagle]

Hoot man give it a break... I have said all year I believe we should all beat every team as bad as you can... We were fortunate, it coulda been worse... Nothing to be upset with... FTH will stop scoring when we try to stop scoring. Good game FTH, go get another title this year.

Also, to Towles... Man can't wait to see you in the UK blue in white!

[Hoot Gibson]

Please forgive me for being blunt, but your snot nosed whining is getting old.

Bluntuned is no problem. It's condescending jerks that I seem to have trouble forgiving.

[Stardust]

Not really. I was just eager to see how Highlands fans (including your adoptee, Stardust) would rationalize Mueller' decision to run up the score and risk injuries to Towles and the other Bluebirds starters by playing them the fourth quarter of a blowout win. The double standard is exactly what I expected.

I assume that the Highlands supporters who are not defending Mueller know good sportsmanship when the see it - and when they don't.

Hmm, how about it Bluebird faithful, will you let this Camel Jockey ride on the back-bumper of the bandwagon? I will wear blue under my purple, and I promise to uphold the "Pester the Hoot" by-law.:biggrin:

I think the JCHS fans would even right me a recommendation as long as I upheld that last by-law...

[Hoot Gibson]

Hoot man give it a break... I have said all year I believe we should all beat every team as bad as you can... We were fortunate, it coulda been worse... Nothing to be upset with... FTH will stop scoring when we try to stop scoring. Good game FTH, go get another title this year.

Also, to Towles... Man can't wait to see you in the UK blue in white!

I disagree with you that running up the score is acceptable in any sport but I see that many people agree with you and Dale Mueller. I do give you credit for being consistent. The hypocrites who constantly bash Matney and defend Mueller deserve no such credit.

[MCDADDY]

I really don't see where it is that big of deal either way considering the circumstances. Everyone knows Matney likes to pad the score himself sometimes. Don't get me wrong, he's not a Derosset who will throw on your freshman DB's after being up 40 in the 4th, but Matney will do things like run the counter play or belly second back when trying to run clock. Only person i have ever seen that can intentionally not run the score up on teams is Haywood at Belfry. He will run the full back dive every play and allow kids to carry the ball that he knows can't score. Very seldom have i ever seen him score over 60 in a blowout. He doesn't do it and frankly, his kids won't either. I have seen them go down on break away runs in that situation.

[Blau Vogel]

Hmm, how about it Bluebird faithful, will you let this Camel Jockey ride on the back-bumper of the bandwagon? I will wear blue under my purple, and I promise to uphold the "Pester the Hoot" by-law.:biggrin:

I think the JCHS fans would even right me a recommendation as long as I upheld that last by-law...

This Cake Eater married a Camel...I can sure tolerate one on a discussion board